Garment hanger



N. v. BURY ETAL GARMENT HANGER Nov. 14, 1-961 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledApril 27, 1956 Ww M OZ R Z w r o T wa A Rm 3 mi m N 196 N. v. BURY ETAL3,008,615

' GARMENT HANGER Filed April 27, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 42 INVENTORSJVIZie VT Bury Greyory iflferma fiaberi' -M.](OU6ZZ M,M,HQMWM UnitedStates Patent 3,008,615 GARMENT HANGER Nellie V. Bury, 80 Ave. B, NewYork 9, NY; Gregory R. Serrao, 1470 E. 4th St., Brooklyn, N.Y.; andRobert M. Koval, 80 Ave. B, New York 9, N.Y.

Filed Apr. 27, 1956, Ser. No. 581,028 8 Claims. (Cl. 22393) Thisinvention relates to gar-ment hangers, and more particularly to hangersof the type comprising oppositelyextended lateral arms adapted to engageand support the,

undersides of the shoulder portions of a garment.

It has been proposed in the past .to provide garment hangers of theabove type, wherein relatively narrow bars extend in opposite directionsand have spring-charged or biased movable fingers arranged to clamp theshoulder portions of a garment draped on the hanger. Such devices,however, were not entirely satisfactory since the garment tended towrinkle because of the inadequate support provided even though springclips were, used, and in that the slope and surface presented to thegarment by the hanger did not simulate the human shoulders and thereforedid not properly support the garment in a normal position and withoutundue wrinkling.

The above drawbacks and disadvantages are obviated by the presentinvention, and an object of the invention is to provide a novel andimproved garment hanger which presents broad, sloping supportingsurfaces for engagement with the undersides of the shoulder portions ofa garment and which has disposed on said broad supporting surfacesspring-biased clamps adapted to engage and se curely hold the garment inplace.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved garment hangeras above characterized, wherein the clamp means may be easily andconveniently actuated to facilitate hanging of the garment or removalthereof, said clamp means comprising in its preferred form members ofrelatively large or appreciable area which are cooperable with the largeor broad surfaces of the supporting portions of the hanger. A stillfurther object of the invention is to provide an improved garment hangeras above characterized, wherein a plurality of spring-charged clampingmeans is provided on each supporting arm of the hanger, to effect quickand easy placement and removal of the garment and effective supportthereof without wrinkling.

A feature of the invention resides in the provision of improved garmenthangers having all of the above advantages, which are neverthelessextremely simple in their construction and economical to manufacture.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a novel and improvedgarment hanger in accordance with the 'above, which is adaptable to holdevening gowns or dresses of the type which are devoid of shoulderportions, and which are also strapless. f

Other features and advantages will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings accompanying this specification, similar characters ofreference indicate corresponding parts wherever possible in theseveralviews, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a front perspective view of an improved garment hanger madein accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a top or plan view of the garment hanger of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a garment hanger madein accordance with a modification of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary top view of one arm of the garment hanger ofFIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of a garment hanger illustrating afurther modification of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of a garment hanger illustrating yetanother modification of the invention.

3,008,615 Patented Nov. 14, 1961 FIG. 7 is a front perspective view of agarment hanger illustrating still another modification of the invention,the said hanger being arranged for engaging the shoulder portions of agown or for supp-ortingthe straps thereof.

FIG. 8 is a front perspective View of the hanger of FIG. 7 but showingthe parts readjusted to support a strapless and shoulderless eveninggown or dress.

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view of a garment hanger made in accordancewith the invention and illustrating a still further modificationthereof.

FIG. 10 is a top or plan view of a garment hanger illustrating yetanother modification of the invention.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a modified form of shoulder engagingmember, adaptable for use with the hanger shown in FIGS. 7-10.

.FIG. 12 is a perspective view of another modified form of shoulderengageable member for use with the hangers of FIGS. 7-10.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 the improved garment hanger shown thereincomprises a central cross bar ,10 which may be of slightly bowed shape,having secured to its center an upstanding supporting rod 11 providedWith a hooked end 12.

In accordance with this invention there are provided on the oppositeends of the cross bar 10 round, garment-engaging tabular members 13 ofappreciable girth, having rounded, remote ends or extremities 14, andhaving proximal extremities 15 provided with circular faces 16 throughwhich the bar 10 may extend. Each of the members 13 has a relativelylarge diameter or girth, as for example in the neighborhood of fourinches, whereby large, garment-engaging upper and side surfaces areprovided which effectively support various garments such as dresses andthe like without causing wrinkling thereof. Thus the members 13 simulatethe contours of the human shoulders.

Further, in accordance with the present invention, there are providedeffective and easily operated, convenient clamping means carried by themembers 13, to engage and clamp the supported garment without causingwrinkling thereof or marks thereon. This clamping means as shown inFIGS. 1 and 2 comprises pairs of clamping plates 18 and 19 carried bythe garment-engaging members 13 respectively. The clamping plates 18 and19 are disposed adjacent the proximal ends 15 of the members 13, and mayhave base or supporting portions 20 and 21 secured to the plates 18 and19 by hinge connections 22, 23 respectively. The base portions 20, 21may be secured to the members 13 by screws 24 or any other suitablemeans.

Associated with the plates 18, 19 and base portions 20, 21 are coilsprings 25 by which the plates are continuously urged against or inengagement with the garmentsupporting members 13. It will be noted thateach of the clamping plates 18 and 19 has an appreciable area, and thatthe plates are spaced somewhat from each other, thereby toenable them toeffectively grip and hold a dress or similar article of raiment withoutwrinkling or marking the same.

I Moreover, it will be appreciated that the clamping plates may beeasily and conveniently lifted to release the garment, or to place thegarment in position on the hanger. This may be easily done seriatim orsimultaneously, and removal of the garment may be effected'by gentlypulling the shoulder portion out of engagement with the clamping plates,where the material of the garment is not too delicate or lacy. 1

.We have found that each of the garment-engaging members 13 may beadvantageously on the order of six inches in length, and that themembers maybe spaced apart adistance of six inches. The cross bar 10 maybe advantageously of stur'dy "construction, with a diameter e fforexample.

Moreover, the various components making up the garment hanger may beconstituted of either metal, or plastic or other material. For example,the hook 12 may be of metal, and the remainder of the hanger of plastic,or the cross bar may be of metal. Where the cross bar 10 and members 13are of plastic they may be easily assembled by utilizing a press fit,with a suitable cement. Also, the garment supporting members 13 may beadvantageously formed of wood as well as plastic, orplastic coated wood,for instance.

By the provision of the expansive'surfaces of the members 13 andclamping plates 18 and 19 there is no like lihood of wrinkling ormarking of the garment which is carried by the hanger, and the garmentwill be normally held in the manner similarto that occurring when it isworn.

A modification of the invention is shown'in FIGS. 3-

and 4, wherein the ends'of' a cross bar 10a have threads 27 by whichthey may be screwed into the'garment'engaging members 13. In place ofthe pairs of clamping plates 18and19 there is provided a single, curved,expansive olampingplate 28 carried by an arm 29 pivoting'about a pin'30secured to a mounting bracket 31 which is in turn attached to the member'13 by screws 32. A coil spring 33 is provided to establi h a downwardbias for the arm 2 9,'thereby to normallyrnaintain the clamping pla-te28in engagement with the member 13.

Another modification of the invention is shown in FIG. 5. Thisconstruction of garment hanger is similar to that shown in FIGS. l and2, except that in place of the garment-engaging members 13 truncatedmembers 13a are provided, having substantially flat or planarundersurfaces 35. The surfaces 35 maybe slightly concave to follow thegeneral curvature of the hanger, if desired.

The cross bar 10 shown in FIG. 5 may be secured to the members 13a inany suitable manner, as for example by employing screws, rivets or thelike.

Yet another modification of the invention is illustrated in FIG. 6,wherein instead of the solid members 13 or 13a of FIGS. 1 and 5 thereare provided garment-engaging members 13b formed as hollow shells. Withthis construction the cross bar 10 mayextend virtually to the remoteextremities of the shells 13b, and may be adhered to the latter. Thistype of securement would be especiallyrefiective where both the-crossbar 10 and shells 1312 are formed of plastic material. The clampingplates 18b and19b in FIG. 6 maybe attached tothe shells 13b byanysuitablepivotal connection means, and coil springs 37 may be providedto effect the downward bias of the clamping plates.

The garment hanger shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 comprises a cross bar 40-having secured to itscenter an upstanding hook 41. At the ends of thecross bar 40 are disposed crowned plates or tabular members 42 ofgenerally oval shape, having mounting tabs or'portions 43- secured-bypivot bolts 44 to the bar. The plates 42 may thus be swung from extendedpositions as shown in FIG. 7 to laterally projecting positions as shownin'FIG. 8. Also, the plates 42 have spring biasedclamps or clasps 45arranged to grasp and hold either the straps or breast portion orshoulder portions of an evening gown or dress.

Further, pivotally. carried by the extremitiesof the cross bar 40*areclamping arms 46 having pads 47 engagea-ble with the upper surfaces ofthe-plates 43, to engage and grip either'shoulder straps orshotrlderportions-of 'a gown. Additionally, the pads 47 have'springbiased clamps or clasps 49, to hold shoulder straps or shoulder "pads orback i portion;

The arms 46 are carried by horizontal pivots 50 mounted on upright posts51 which are-pivotally mounted on the cross bar 40,-" andthus the arms-46 may havenot onlyvertioal arcuateor swinging movement but alsohorizontal arcuate movement. Accordinglythe arms 46 may FIG. 10, whereina construction is illustratedwhich is be extended oppositely to theplates 42, as shown in FIG. 8, thereby to engage the front and rearportions of a strapless and shoulderless evening gown or dress. Theclamps on the pads 47, as well as the clamps on the plates 42 mayfunction to grip the upper edges of the gown, as indicated, thereby toadequately support the gown in a position-tending to prevent wrinkling.

In FIG. 9 there is shown a garment hanger similar in many respects tothat shown in FIGS. 7 'andr8, except that hinges 42b areprovided'on'themounting tabs 43a of the plates 42a, thereby enablingsaid plates to be swung downward from their laterally extended positions(similar to the positions indicated in FIG. 8). Following the'plates 42awhen they are swung downward are -the'arms 46,-which--may'thus beutilizedas a clamping means in conjunction with theplates 42a, and thepivotal mounting for the arms 46 is of course arranged to permit suchextensive downward arcuate movement.-

In place of theplates 42 and- 42a, conical members 42c maybeprovided asshown in FIG. 11, or-curved disks or segments 42d, as'shown in 12. Theconical members 420 and the members-42d may be sufficiently long toaccommodate "fairly long sleeves.

A further modification of'the invention is shown in similar in mostrespects to that shown in'FIG; 7. However, in'place of the narrow crossbar 40' of FIG. 7 there is provided inFIG. 10 a much wider cross bar"401) which is better adaptedto'support' the straps of a gown,particularly if such straps are ofthinorlacyconstruction.

It will bereadily understood that, in accordance with the above, therehave been provided noveland advantageous garment hangers having broadand'expansive, shoulder-engaging portions in conjunction with easilyactuated and effective clamping means by which the shoulders of agarment are clamped against the said'expansive, shoulder-engagingportions. The clamping means are characterized by large, expansivesurfaces by which there is avoided wrinkling or marking of thegarment'being supported.

Variations and modifications may be made within the scope of the claimsand portions of the improvements may be used without others.

We claim:

'1. A garment hanger comprisingja cross bar and means for suspendingsaid bar from a supporting member; four pairs of cooperable.clamping'membera'two pairs of said members being pivotally mounted bymeans of vertically disposed pivots positioned on each endof the crossbar for horizontal pivoting movement, the-members of either pair beingadapted to. clamp the shoulder or strap portions of a gown or dress whensaid two pairs of members extend longitudinallyand outwardly from theends of the bar, each pair of'mernbers being of greater length than thewidth of said bar and beingswingable on the bar as a separate unit andthe .pairsofmembers ateither end of the bar being swingable individuallylaterally of the bar to extend in opposite directions and away from thesides of-the bar for engagement with the front and .rear'bodyportions-of a gown or dress for supporting the same.

2. The invention as-defined in claim-1 in which the upper surface'ofone'member-in any'of the saidtwo pairs is adapted to engage and supportthe inside shoulder portions of a gown ordress- 3. The invention asdefined in claim 2 in which another member of any of the said two pairshas a pad-like portion 015- appreciable'area, cooper-able'with the uppersurface of the said 'one'member, .for clamping the shoulder of a gown ordress.

4; The-invention as'defined in claim 2 in which there is an additionalclamping jaw on said one member, spaced from thatclamping member whichis. c'ooperable'with the one-member, for enabling two spaced upperedgeportions of a supportedgownto be clamped by the members.

5. Theinvention as defined in claim 2. in. which the members of eachpair are disposed one above another, and in which the said one member ofany of the two pairs is generally cone-shaped.

6. The invention as defined in claim 2, in which the members of eachpair are disposed one above another, and in which the said one member ofany of the two pairs comprises a curved sheet having a convex uppersurface and a concave lower surface.

7. A garment hanger comprising a cross bar and means for suspending saidbar from a supporting member, a plate member pivotally mounted on eachend of said cross bar by means of a vertically disposed pivot so thatsaid plate members are mounted for pivotal movement in a substantiallyhorizontal plane, clamping members, pivot means pivotally mounting saidclamping members on each end of said cross bar in cooperative clampingrelation to said plate members with said clamping members disposed abovethe plate members to clamp the shoulder or strap portions of a garment,a second pivot means mounted on said cross bar adjacent to saidfirst-mentioned pivot means with each pivot means disposed at rightangles to each other respectively for mounting the clamping members onsaid bar for pivotal movement in a substantially vertioal plane and alsofor pivotal movement in a substantially horizontal plane, the platemembers and clamping members at either end of the bar being therebymovable horizontally in opposite directions from their operativeclamping relation to each other to extend in opposite directionslaterally of the bar to engage front and rear portions of a garment.

8. The invent-ion as defined in claim 7 in which each of the platemembers and each of the clamping members has a clasp mounted thereon toclamp the said front and rear portions of the garment.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,184,743 Griifiths May 30, 1916 1,204,618 Verkler Nov. 14, 19161,586,400 Boling May 25, 1926 2,077,717 Schramm Apr. 20, 1937 2,525,142Levinson Oct. 10, 1950

